WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. June 14, 2007 UPDATED 9:30 PM EDT: Councilman Glen Hockley reports to WPCNR tonight that the Common Council passed the surprise resolution authorizing the purchase of 3 "trolleys" as Mr. Hockley describes them with a Department of Transportation grant obtained for the city from Representative Nita Lowey. Asked what the trolley study that was conducted had said about the feasibility of a trolley system, Hockley had no comment, and said, "I believe further studies will be made." Asked what kind of buses these were, Hockley said no designs were shown the council, and he had no idea what the trolley capacities would be.
Hockley said the council was very supportive of the resolution which was introduced highly descreetly two days ago. Only by WPCNR being advised of the backup material by a news tipster, available for today's Special Meeting was it revealed that the resolution called for the city purchasing three buses.
Tonight's special meeting ostensibly to move the LCOR Bank Street affordable housing project along, proves that you always have to read the backup material carefully. Item 9 on the agenda talks about a DOT regulation. Nothing right? No big deal, right.
Wrong. Item 9 on tonights Common Council agenda concerns the proposed downtown trolley system. It indicates that the proposed study has been undertaken and completed. The resolution is to accept a $242,945 dollar grant from the Federal Transit Administration to purchase buses to implement the recommendations.
At no time was the results of the study every discussed in public to this reporter's knowledge. The council agreed to an agenda that characterizes this attempt in the most obscure terms.
Here is the resolution that agrees to purchase trolley buses as released to the general public Wednesday:
1. Communication from the Mayor in relation to applications to the Federal Transit Administration under the United States Department of Transportation for transportation assistance as authorized by 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53, Title 23, united States Code.
2. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the filing of applications with the Federal Transit Administration, an operating administration of the United States Department of Transportation, for Federal transportation assistance authorized by 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53, Title 23, United States Code and other Federal statutes administered by the Federal Transit Administration.
